Let's Speak Chabacano

Beng tackles Cabatangan property, return of reg’l center with Dureza

Written by Administrator

Friday, 16 June 2017 09:23

Mayor Beng Climaco early this week reiterated the city’s desire to acquire the ARMM property in Cabatangan pursuant to the expanded ARMM law and the request to return the regional center to Zamboanga City from Pagadian.

Mayor Climaco tackled the two issues and a host of other concerns with Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Jesus Dureza, who was in the city to keynote the city celebration of the 119th Philippine Independence Day last Monday.

“As somebody coming from Mindanao, Secretary Dureza is very inclusive and very particular about the sentiments of the Christians, Muslims and Lumads,” Mayor Climaco said, confident that OPAPP Secretary can relay the city’s concerns to President Duterte. The chief executive had the opportunity to confer with the Cabinet official over dinner Sunday, on the eve of Independence Day.

The two officials also tackled about the status of the GPH-MILF-MNLF Peace process, updates on the proposed shift to federalism, tourism prospects for the 11 islands, the planned transfer of the Zamboanga International Airport to Mercedes-Talabaan area and the request to spare Zamboanga from the transit point of MNLF members who wish to help government troopers in the fight against Maute rebels among others.

Climaco said she will always bring up these concerns to the attention of the national government whenever there are opportunities as these are the desires and aspirations of the Zamboanguenos.

She said aside from the relaying these concerns verbally to the authorities concerned, the city has also formally informed the concerned agencies through letters and documents earlier on.

The mayor expressed confidence that Sec. Dureza is on top of the situation and will always be on board whenever Zamboanga City encounters problems related to people connected with the attackers during the Zamboanga siege in 2013.

“We are just concerned about the city and we want to ensure that peace loving residents of the city will not be further traumatized,” Climaco added. (Sheila Covarrubias)